Spreading kindness in little Evelyn’s memory

Spreading kindness was the aim of the day this week for the charity Evelyn’s Gift, as well-wishers came out to celebrate what would have been the Warwick pupil’s 10th birthday.

Helen Smith, who set up the charity last year, said she was completely overwhelmed by responses to the first Be Happy Day on December 1 which aims to encourage kindness in memory of her daughter Evelyn.

Evelyn's Gift

The Coten End pupil died unexpectedly in September 2013, aged just seven years old, as the result of a viral and bacterial infection which restricted her breathing.

Describing her daughter as a happy and kind soul, Helen said: “Evelyn was a very loving and fun person and wanted other people to be happy too.

“We thought people would support us with their own kind acts, but have been overwhelmed by the amount of people who have donated, or let us know what they have done in memory of Evelyn.

“It is obviously very difficult for us but to know the charity is helping so many people is just amazing.”

Fundraisers were held at Pastelaria Portuguesa, Warwickshire College and by Warwick community groups.

Evelyn’s Gift was initially set up to promote the importance of CPR and lifesaving resuscitation, but it now has a much broader reach, raising funds and help for the Leamington Night Shelter, to renovate a family room in St Michael’s Hospital in Warwick, and working with women and children in refugee shelters.

The charity, which is being supported this year by Warwick Mayor Cllr Mandy Littlejohn, has already trained CPR to hundreds of local people and teachers through primary schools.

It is also providing training in secondary schools, nurseries and community groups.